Green Bay Packers: 5 Reasons they can beat 49ers in NFC Championship
By Joe Kipp
4. Jared Veldheer offers great insurance for Bryan Bulaga
Bryan Bulaga has been a force at right tackle all season, which is why his absence in the Packers’ last meeting with the 49ers was greatly felt.
Bulaga went down just nine plays into the game with an MCL sprain in his right knee, which forced backup offensive tackle Alex Light to take over early in the game. Light was dominated by 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa, creating a huge mismatch on the right side of the offensive line for nearly the entire game.
This time around, the Packers have a backup plan. Jared Veldheer, a 10-year veteran who was signed the week after Green Bay lost to San Francisco, stepped in without missing a beat last week against the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Divisional Round.
Veldheer surrendered zero quarterback pressures, sacks or hits against Seattle, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). That stands in stark contrast to Light’s lackluster effort in the first meeting with San Francisco.
Bulaga couldn’t play last week because of a flu illness that’s plagued much of the Packers’ locker room in recent weeks. If Bulaga can’t go on Sunday against San Fran, the Packers have a capable starter in Veldheer.